EATING, drinking, dancing, art and music have become routine activities that many people go through without giving much thought.
So routine have these activities become that very few people appreciate the fact that food, drink, dance and music are the components that strengthen cultural values, preserve heritage and preserve history, build community character and enhance community engagement and participation in the economy.
Experts opine these activities that are carried out in a set of locations, spaces, different levels of professionalism and participation are essential to a community’s well-being, economic and cultural vitality, sense of identity and are our heritage.
Fully expressed through the arts, music and food festivals as well as day-to-day activities, these tangible and intangible activities constitute a community’s culture.
Sadly, local indigenous cultures are being eroded, with the African cultural landscape now resembling a field of gullies and dongas.
Zimbabwe has not been spared the effects of the so-called globalisation, which is mostly the undermining of African culture deemed as backwards in preference to Western culture.
Local dress, music, dance and food have become a potpourri of everything but Zimbabwean/African culture.
A close look at the different communities that make up Zimbabwe and their traditions leaves one amazed; ways and values are being disregarded and where they are observed they have been bastardised and twisted to suit ‘modernity’.
Why have some cultural practices been stopped and regarded as not important?
In one of her writings, anthropologist Dr Michelina Andreucci highlights how the destruction of local cultures stems, not just from globalisation, but colonisation.
According to Dr Andreucci, the destruction was started by the colonial authorities and missionaries.
For instance, she points out that traditional dances and rituals were considered ‘magical, witchcraft and heathen’ and were substituted with the ‘civilised’ ‘Fox-trot’, ‘Cha-cha-cha’, ‘Tango’ and other Western-style ballroom dances.
However, social scientists insist the formerly colonised must rediscover and embrace their African traditions, laws and values for sustainable development.
According to educationist Nyasha Chakanyuka, societies and communities will thrive when rooted in their traditions.
“No amount of time can justify the doing away with one’s values and ways,” said Chakanyuka.
“All prosperous nations in the world, including the Americans and Chinese, have thrived by following in ways and traditions they have observed for hundreds of years.
“Thus, we should be wary if we are advised to abandon our ways and embrace foreign cultures.
“Our social, economic and political growth is dependent on observation and maintenance of what made us a people prior to the coming of the whiteman.”
“While some,” she said, “would want to emphasise the dynamism of culture, there are certain things such as ‘respect your mother and father as well as elders’ that will never change.”
According to the experts, every generation has an obligation to maintain and perpetuate ways that engender harmony and growth of society.
For example, traditional dances that include dinhe, mbakumba, muchongoyo or umchongoyo, isitshikitsha, tangi, chinyambera and makwikwindo that whites sought to destroy, were critical to the survival and growth of local communities.
President of Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association (ZNTDA), Kennedy Kachuruka, said the dances were a critical component of the nation.
“Each dance symbolises a certain cultural practice perpetuated by the performance of the dance,” he said.
“Muchongoyo celebrated victory in battle and was performed by men while women join in to celebrate with ululations
“Dinhe, on the other hand, celebrated a good harvest with dance steps showing the process of production,” he said.
Chinyambera and kachuruka were other dances performed by Karanga hunters.
“These celebrations ensured skills were passed on to the young and that they grew up appreciating the social and economic activities that sustained communities,” said Chakanyuka.
Fortunately, institutions such as Delta Beverages, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and ZNTDA, through their programmes such as Chibuku Neshamwari competition, have ensured these activities are not totally decimated.
Renowned music expert, Professor Fred Zindi, said music is important in portraying values and traditions of a people.
“Music is prevalent in African traditional rituals where the mbira is used to spiritually communicate with the ancestors,” he said.
“Even at funerals, when people are sad, people sing songs to comfort and console each other.”
Professor Zindi said it was sad that presently it had been left to elders, mostly in rural areas, to preserve what is left of Zimbabwean traditions.
Historical practices such as jitis, biras and rain-asking ceremonies are no longer considered important while Western festivals such as Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA) are celebrated and promoted by locals.
Even the food sector has not been spared.
Locals have abandoned African traditional foods, opting for the ‘fashionable’ Chinese, Indian and Mexican foods.
The sad thing is that locals only get to embrace African traditional dishes if they are served in Western restaurants or recommended by doctors.
According to the experts, values and traditions of a people cannot be substituted, especially if the people desire to be influential global players.
“Today many people want to learn Mandarin,” Chakanyuka said.
“It has become an important language because of what the Chinese have achieved as a people.”